Brazil’s Lula announces higher welfare payments and free weight-loss jabs ahead of election
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a 15% increase in the Bolsa Família cash-transfer program and free weight-loss injections two weeks before the presidential election. Opponents, including rival candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, criticized the timing as an attempt to buy votes, while Lula defended the move as an inflation adjustment to protect vulnerable families. Analysts noted that while the actions are electorally motivated, they are legally distinct from similar temporary measures taken by former President Jair Bolsonaro in 2022.
- ▪The monthly payment for the Bolsa Família program will rise from approximately £98 to £113, taking effect on October 19, just before the likely runoff vote.
- ▪Flávio Bolsonaro, the far-right senator and Lula's main opponent, labeled the announcement an act of desperation and an attempt to buy the votes of the poor.
- ▪The cash-transfer program currently covers about 50 million people, with eligibility set for families earning up to £32 per person.
- ▪Experts argue that Lula's permanent inflation adjustment is more fiscally responsible than the temporary, high-cost benefits package introduced by Bolsonaro in 2022.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/brazil-lula-welfare-payments-weight-loss-jabs-election |
| Publication time | Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:10:37 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-18T17:28:45.325Z |
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Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a candidate for re-election for the workers' party (PT), speaks at a campaign rally in Brasilia, Brazil, on 16 September 2026. Photograph: Adriano Machado/ReutersView image in fullscreenBrazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a candidate for re-election for the workers' party (PT), speaks at a campaign rally in Brasilia, Brazil, on 16 September 2026. Photograph: Adriano Machado/ReutersBrazilBrazil’s Lula announces higher welfare payments and free weight-loss jabs ahead of electionCritics say moves from leftwing incumbent president are electorally motivated two weeks before Brazil’s electionsTiago Rogero in Rio de JaneiroFri 18 Sep 2026 13.10 EDTLast modified on Fri 18 Sep 2026 13.11 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleBrazil’s…
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